Friday, November 23, 2007

Health Tips for November 23

Health Tip: Make the Holidays More Meaningful

Children can easily be caught up in the superficial aspects of the holidays, including all of the big meals, and gifts coming from so many friends and relatives.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for making the holidays more meaningful for you and your children:

* Create traditions in the family that your children can look forward to. Talk about why it's important to have traditions, and which ones are their favorites.
* Encourage children to volunteer, and to make donations and gifts for those who are less fortunate.
* As a family, make homemade gifts to give to friends and family members. Help your children understand that a gift doesn't need to be something that's bought from a store.
* Don't let yourself get stressed during the holidays. Let your children see that it's a time to enjoy spending together as a family.

Health Tip: Eat Healthy When You Eat Out

When it's time to eat out, you may think it's too difficult to stick to a diet or to watch those calories.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which offers these eating-out tips, begs to differ:

* Order water, skim milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks low in sugar and calories.
* Order a small salad as an appetizer, which will help fill you up before the main meal.
* Order salad dressings and other fattening sauces on the side.
* Order entrees that include vegetables.
* Order dishes that are steamed, baked or broiled, not fried.
* Order a small or medium-sized portion -- or even a children's meal -- instead of a regular adult portion.
* Order something from the menu, instead of visiting the all-you-can eat buffet.

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